Seat and back for folding chairs



July 17, 1934. B, D D 1,966,812

SEAT AND BACK FOR FOLDING CHAIRS Filed April 9, 1951 I N VEN TOR.

Ben mm De Z0711] 5 aka ATTORNEX Patented July 17, 1934 came STATES rarest OFFICE 3 Claims.

the frame or legs,.which at the same time is inconformity with the general appearance and which will not increase the weight and size of.

It is a further object of my inven-- the chair.

tion to provide a back for use with such container type of seat as will completely close the container portion thereof after the frame or legs are folded therein, and to have the back and seat so arranged as to form a small and compact bundle, conveniently carried by means of a handle forming an integral part of said back. It is a further object of my invention to construct the back so that it conforms to the shape of the human back when leaned against, and to aid in the accomplishment of this by means of hinge devices integral with the back of the chair.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the entire chair including the proposed seat and back; Fig. 2 is a section view taken just back of the front side of the seat; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the 40 chair folded ready for carrying; Fig. 4 is a detail View of the back brace attached to the seat; Fig. 5 is a detail view of the lock arrangement; Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the open brace under the seat with the rod of the frame inserted therein.

The invention consists of the portable chair shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing and which is preferably constructed of light weight sheet metal. The chair comprises a collapsible frame or legs, a seat which also serves as a container 50 for the collapsed legs, and a back which may be folded over to constitute a cover for the bottom of the seat when the chair is folded up for carrying. The supporting legs or frame of the chair consists of four trapezoidal supporting members 10 held in position by side ties or Stays 11 and by bottom stay 12. The stay 12 is provided with a clasp. 13 which is unfastened when it is desired to take down the chair. These trapezoidal members are all hinged at 14 and the general construction of the supporting frame is the same as that disclosed in the U. S. Patent No. 1,774,197.

In the present construction, this supporting frame is permanently attached to the inner side of an end wall of the seat above referred to by means of a tubular hinge 15, one of the upper trapezoidal members v10 being so attached. The other upper trapezoidal member is detachably secured by clips or brackets 16 on the inner side of the opposite Wall of the seat. disposed at an angle to the wall to whichthey are attached so as to provide a shoulder against which the end of the trapezoidal member rests when the seat is in use. This construction prevents the member from being forced out of the bracket by the weight of the user, as shown in Fig. 6. Y

The seat 17 to which the aforementioned supporting frame is attached is bent over to form back and front flanges 18 and 20 as well as end flanges 21 of sufficient width so that this seat is adapted to constitute a box for the reception of the supporting frame when the latter is collapsed. The edges of the seat are well rounded so as to provide a comfortable support for the body of the user.

The third element of the chair, the back 22, is made of thin resilient sheet metal and is attached to the seat by means of a frame 23 consisting of a rod bent to suitable shape and having ends engaging with the rear flange of the seat. Braces 24 having slots 24 for detachable engagement with pins 25 on the end flanges 21 of the seat and being pivotally attached to lugs 26 on the frame 23, serve to brace the back when the chair is in use. The back 22 is bent around the frame 23 at the sides but is attached at the top by hangers 27 leaving a space between the top of the back and the frame to permit the top portion of the frame to be grasped for a purpose to be described below.

As best seen in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing, the back 22 is hinged to the seat by means of tubular brackets 29 depending from rear flange 18 into which the bent ends 30 of the back frame 23 extend. The ends 30 are free to turn in these tubular brackets and also to move longitudinally therein. Thus, when the user leans against the back 22, the pressure exerted forces these ends inwardly toward the middle of the seat permitting the flexible metal of which the back is composed 0 bend and. conform to the back of the user.

These brackets are When the pressure is released, the flexibility of the metal causes the back to resume its former shape and the ends 30 move outwardly to assume their former position.

When it is desired to collapse the seat for transportation, the fastener 13 is released and the upper trapezoidal member 10 withdrawn from the bracket 16, whereupon the frame can be readily folded into the space provided by the seat 17 and its appurtenant flanges, being retained therein by the hinge 15. The back braces 24 are then detached from the pins 25 by pressing downwardly thereon to bring the enlarged end of the opening 24 in registry with the pin 25. The back is swung around the tubular brackets 29 as a pivot and brought over the open bottom of the seat to form a cover for the latter. In order to attach the back securely in its position as a cover, an apertured latch 31 is hinged to the rear side of the back 22, the latch carrying a hook 37 which engages with an eye in a lug 38 on the front flange 20 of the seat, projecting through the aperture 32 in the latch. It will be noted in Fig. 3 that the back frame 23 projects beyond the front flange of the seat 17 when folded and that there is a space between the frame and the top of the back, as previously mentioned. This projecting portion of the frame serves as a handle by which the collapsed and compactly arranged chair may be conveniently carried by grasping the frame 23 between the hangers 27. The back fits snugly against the seat due to the fact that it is made of thin flexible metal and is yieldably retained by the tubular hinges 29. Also, the front flange 20 cf the seat is provided with slots 47 into which the lugs 26 on the back frame 23 fit and by which they are held, the slots requiring that the lugs be sprung thereinto. This permits the back to be brought down closely against the seat flanges without interference from the lugs.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the present invention provides a chair which can be conveniently carried to the point of use in a neat and compact form and can then be expeditiously set up for use. The box-like shape of the seat provides a receptacle for the collapsed legs or supporting frame and the flexible back constitutes a cover for the open bottom of the seat. The back fits closely against the seat due to the fact that inwardly projecting parts are accommodated by the slots 47 in the front seat flange and secure closing is insured by the latching means provided. The seat is durable because it is made of metal but, at the same time, it is comfortable because the back is made of flexible sheet metal and additional curvature of this back takes place to accommodate the body of the user due to the fact that the back frame 23 is slidably mounted in the tubular brackets 29 to permit the sides of this frame to draw towards each other when a user leans against the back, thus allowing the back to assume the required increased curvature.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechani m herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A folding chair comprising a sheet metal seat, an inverted U-shaped back frame, and tubular brackets mounted on said seat, yieldable bracing means connecting said seat and back frame, said frame supporting a back of sheet material, and having its lower ends bent laterally, said ends being slidably mounted in said brackets to provide flexibility of said back and back frame.

2. A folding chair comprising a seat, and a back frame yieldable bracing means connecting said seat and back frame, said back frame having an inverted U-shape with its lower ends bent laterally and supporting a back of sheet material, there being means for slidably securing said ends to said seat, to provide flexibility of said back and back frame;

3. A fol-ding chair comprising a seat, and a back frame yieldable bracing means connecting said seat and back frame, said back frame having an inverted U-shape with its lower ends bent laterally and supporting a back of sheet material, there being means for slidably securing said ends to said seat, to provide flexibility of said back and back frame, the top of said back frame being spaced from the top of said back, and said back being adapted to fold against and close said seat, the top of said back frame constituting a handle for the structure when folded.

BENJAMIN DELAND. 

